Three years ago my husband and I purchased a little summer house that sat at the edge of a pretty canal. The house had been sadly neglected but in my eyes it had loads of potential. The setting was so charming that I immediately fell in love with it. I had always (forever!!) wanted a house on the water. I have a thing about water, it lures, soothes, calms and fascinates me. Oceans, rivers, lakes even a narrow canal, they all have the same effect.
About a week after we finalized the purchase, I was shopping and spotted an enamel turquoise kettle with a whistle and a silver heart shaped handle on the lid. It was perfect! This kettle was exactly the look and feel I wanted for our summer house. I imagined this one item setting the mood for the all the renovations and decorating we would do there. It would be the symbol of my simple, uncluttered life by the water.
I picked up the kettle and carried it around while I browsed through the rest of the store. And then I did a funny thing, I put it back. I left the store without it.
Days later I was telling my sister about that experience. Why hadn't I bought it? My best guess was that I didn't think I needed it. But I realized that I didn't feel that I deserved it. Not that I wasn't worthy of a kettle, it was what it symbolized to me. Who was I to have this amazing life? A loving husband, wonderful daughters, even a son-in-law I adore, an artist life ...and a house on the water. That kettle symbolized all I had and all that I hoped to create. I had held it and yet chose to put it back as if to say, "Thank-you but I have enough. I don't need or deserve more."
The next day my sister showed up at my door. In her hands she held my turquoise kettle! Awestruck by her kindness and love, I began to cry (quite typical behaviour for me...I am often moved to tears). "How did you know it was this one?" I asked. "I saw it and I knew it was you." she said.
We have since sold the summer house. We sold it completely furnished; with the exception of the turquoise kettle. The kettle now sits in my suburban kitchen, reminding me, "Who are you not to have a wonderful, love-filled and creative life?"
My turquoise kettle and this blog serve as a reminder to me that there is no benefit in being miserly with myself, no one wins when I set limits on the amount of creativity, love and abundance that I allow to God pour into my life. My job is to create, to be thankful and above all to love.
Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life.
Sandra
Thank YOU Sandra. A terrific reminder for us all.
ReplyDeleteThe turquoise kettle is so 'you'!
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